Islamic State member turns in himself to Iraqi army in Mosul

Members of Iraqi Federal Police carry their weapon at the frontline during a battle with Islamic State militants in western Mosul, Iraq June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State militant has turned in himself to security troops in Mosul city, an officer from the Iraqi army said on Monday.

“An IS member headed to his relatives to extradite him to the Iraqi army,” Ahmed Bahgat, deputy commander of Nineveh Operations, told Alghad Press on Monday. “The family then turned in him to the army on Sunday evening.”

Bahgat commanded the people’s awareness describing it as ‘positive’ indicator in Mosul.

In related news, the security and local affairs department in Nineveh announced confiscating explosives in the western flank of the province.

In a statement, the department said troops managed to seize the explosives in western Mosul and hand them to authorities in question.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared in July victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25,000 Islamic State militants were killed throughout the campaign. Earlier this month, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.

The war against IS has displaced nearly five million people, with tens of thousands of civilians and militants killed since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.